Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts• Spared from the Storm: Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art (thru Oct 5) Includes 80 paintings, drawings and sculptures by several influential artists spanning the 17th through the 20th century, including Giordano, Monet and Picasso. • Richard Diebenkorn, Artist, and Carey Stanton, Collector: Their Stanford Connection and Richard Diebenkorn: Abstractions on Paper (July 23-Nov 9) Includes an assortment of drawings, paintings and prints by renowned American artist Richard Diebenkorn from the collections of Carey Stanton, a fellow Stanford alum, and others. • Splendid Grief: Darren Waterston and the Afterlife of Leland Stanford Jr. (thru June 21, 2009) Contemporary artist Darren Waterson interprets and examines the Stanford family's grief and mourning surrounding the death of their only son, Leland Stanford Jr., for whom the university was built. Wed-Sun, 11-5, Thurs ‘til 8pm.Wed-Sun, 11-5, Thurs ‘til 8pm. (Stanford: Lomita Dr. & Museum Way; 650/723-4177; www.museum.stanford.edu)
Palo Alto Art Center • Nathan Oliveira: The Painter’s Bronzes (thru Sept 7) This is the first exhibition to survey bronze works by Oliveira, a renowned artist and former studio art professor at Stanford. • Timothy Berry: More Missing Magic (thru Sept 7) Berry’s suggestive drawings and gold leaf and tar paintings address themes of fear and deception. Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat, 10-5pm; Thurs, 7-9; Sun, 1-5. (Palo Alto: 1313 Newell Rd.; 650/329-2366; www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/artcenter)
The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art • Brendan Lott: Memories I’ll Never Have (thru Aug 2) By pulling photographs from the Internet and sending jpegs to China where the images are reproduced as oil paintings, Lott challenges notions of art and technology, authorship, globalization and outsourcing. • Eureka! (thru Sept 20) See the best Bay Area works from recipients of the Eureka Fellowship, the largest cash prize for individual artists. Includes works from artists like Josh Lazcano, Paul Kos and Claire Rojas. • Medusa (Aug 15-Sept 27) Australian artist Timothy Horn’s ornate and ethereal chandelier, made with silicone rubber and fiber optics, is inspired by 19th-century jellyfish illustrations. Tues-Fri, 10-5; Thurs till 8pm; Sat, 12-5. (San Jose: 560 S. First St.; 408/283-8155; www.sjica.org)
San Jose Museum of Art• 01SJ Biennial: Superlight (thru Aug 30) The lead exhibit of the digital art festival 01SJ features work ranging from algorithmic films to kinetic sculptural installations. • Robots: Evolution of a Cultural Icon (thru Oct 19) This exhibit shows the evolution of robot iconography in art over the past 50 years. Tues-Sun, 11-5. (San Jose: 110 S. Market St.; 408/294-2787; www.sjica.org)
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles • Beyond Knitting: Uncharted Stitches; Pun Intended: The Appliqued Wit of Dorothy Vance; and In Javanese Moonlight: Sha Sha Higby (thru Aug 24) See avant-garde artists use cutting-edge knitting techniques to create sculptures of exceptional beauty and quirkiness; Vance’s clever and charming folk art quilts, each of which juxtapose folk art, politics and pop culture; and Higby’s intricate performance art costumes, constructed with materials like wood, gold leaf and silk. Tues-Sun, 10am-5pm; open late for South First Fridays. (San Jose: 520 S. First St.; 408/971-0323; www.sjquiltmuseum.org)
San Mateo County History Museum• Gabriel Moulin’s Photos of the San Francisco Peninsula: Town & Country Homes 1910-1930 (thru Nov 9) See the glory days of the Peninsula elite through the lens of one of California’s premier photographers. Tues-Sun 10-4. (Redwood City: 220 Broadway; 650/299-0104; www.sanmateocountyhistory.com)
Triton Museum of Art• Betty Nobue Kano: Paintings (thru Aug 31) Kano’s subtle blend of traditional Japanese art with modern abstract ideas encourages viewers to reflect on their social consciousness. • Vicki Walsh: Portraits (thru Aug 31) Walsh’s naturalistic technique, striking attention to detail and large-scale works fascinates viewers. Daily, 11-5; Thurs, until 9. (Santa Clara: 1505 Warburton Ave.; 408/247-3754; www.tritonmuseum.org)
Thru November: Peabody Art Gallery presents Dr. Seuss for President. This unique exhibit showcases the lesser-known political artwork by Ted Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss. The thought-provoking prints, books and editorial cartoons on display offer an unusual peek into another aspect of Geisel’s imagination, and are must-sees for political junkies and Dr. Seuss fans alike. Mon-Sat 10-6; Sun, 12-5. (Los Gatos: 11 N. Santa Cruz Ave.; 408/395-3440. Menlo Park: 603 Santa Cruz Ave.; 650/322-2200; www.peabodyfineart.com)
Aug 1: South First Fridays. Enjoy San Jose’s SoFa District’s First Fridays, when everything art and entertainment-related goes long into the night. Galleries including Anno Domini and GreenRice toss aside their “closed” signs for this lively event. 8pm. (San Jose: 300-500 blocks of S. First St.; 408/271-5155; www.southfirstfridays.com)
Aug 1: Palo Alto Art Walk. Downtown Palo Alto galleries stay open until 9pm for this monthly event. Galleries include the Pacific Art League (668 Ramona; 650/321-3891); University Art Annex (267 Hamilton Ave.; 650/328-3500); and Bryant Street Gallery (532 Bryant St.; 650/321-8155; www.paloaltoartwalk.com)
Aug 1-2: Blu Fine Art celebrates the work of Steven Quartly, known for his contemplative still-life paintings and landscapes. Reception on Aug 1, 6-9pm; “Meet the artist” event on Aug 2, 12-5pm. (San Jose: 377 Santana Row, Suite 1010; 408/246-8020; www.blufineart.com)
Aug 9: Second Saturday Art Walk. This monthly multicultural event features fair trade crafts by 75 local artists at five art galleries. 7pm. (Redwood City: Broadway St.; 650/367-7556; www.redwoodcityartwalk.com)
Aug 29-30: Blu Fine Art celebrates the work of Vladimir Kush, whose surrealist paintings combine myth, metaphor and poetry. Reception on Aug 29, 6-9pm; “Meet the artist” event on Aug 30, 12-5pm. (San Jose: 377 Santana Row, Suite 1010; 408/246-8020; www.blufineart.com)
